The trip to Reskar was uneventful, which Jim was thankful for. If they had encountered some alien probe demanding their presence or accusing them of war crimes, Jim would have lost it. And it honestly wasn't that much of a stretch in probability to consider; stranger things had happened before. Regardless, they were now in orbit around the planet, and Jim, Spock, Bones, and Uhura were seated in the conference room, receiving their final briefing from Admiral Sharn.
"I trust that you all read and memorized Ambassador Silar's notes on the proper etiquette of the Reskarian culture," the admiral stated, fixing Jim with a pointed stare. Jim resisted the strong urge to roll his eyes and merely nodded in response. He knew his crew had obeyed his instructions, in fact, he was fairly certain that both Spock and Uhura had had the information memorized days ago.
"Good. This trade agreement is of vital importance to the Federation. With a secure foothold here, we will be able to halt imperial expansion from encroaching on Federation territory." Again, Jim nodded. The admiral had told him as much the first time they had spoken. "Captain Kirk, you are the only one authorized to sign the agreement in the name of the Federation. Should you be incapacitated in some way, that authorization will fall to your First Officer and then your Chief Engineer. Should anyone else sign it, the agreement will be void."
"Understood, Admiral, although we shouldn't have that problem," Jim replied, carefully crossing his fingers under the table as he spoke. Typically, he wasn't a believer in things like karma and jinxes, but it was best not to take any chances. Over the past few years he had come to learn that the universe had a twisted sense of humor.
"I should hope not. You have been given a copy of the arrangement that was drafted a month ago by the Reskarians and Ambassador Silas. You are authorized to approve any alternative agreement that is within a seven percent margin of the original. The signing is to take place at 8:00 planet-time tomorrow morning, but Ambassador Silas believes that your landing party should beam down this evening to establish contact. While you're on the planet's surface, restrict your calls to the Enterprise to emergency only, and instruct your crew to do the same. The Reskarians must feel like you are giving this agreement your full attention. Good luck, Captain." The admiral nodded once, and then the screen turned black.
Jim turned to his friends. "Uhura, inform the Reskarian ambassador that you spoke with earlier that we would like to beam down a small party this evening if they are willing to host us. If they agree, tell them we will beam down at 18:00 planet-side time," he instructed.
"Yes, Captain."
"Bones, make sure you have the equipment you need to treat any minor allergic reactions. Silas's notes said that Reskarian food is safe for humans, but I want to be prepared just in case."
"Do you really think I'd leave without it, Jim?" Bones asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're allergic to just about everything in our world, and I wouldn't be surprised if that applied to Reskar as well."
Jim laughed and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Thanks, Bones." Then he turned to Spock, who was still staring at the black screen, clearly thinking about something. "Spock?" The Vulcan turned to him, one eyebrow raised.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Go with Uhura and make sure that Scotty knows that our communications will be limited while we are on the planet's surface. Tell him that we'll contact him when we're ready to beam up but otherwise, we'll stay quiet." Jim turned to Uhura and Bones. "Meet at the transporter in formal wear at 17:55." The three of them nodded, and Jim dismissed them.
Once he was alone in the room, he gave in to the urge to bury his head in his hands. He hadn't even stepped onto the planet yet and he already had a headache. When this was over, Admiral Sharn would owe him a favor.
Half an hour later, Jim was standing on the transporter pad in his formal attire, resisting the urge to itch the skin under his sleeves. One would think that with all of their scientific advancements Starfleet would have found a way to make the formal wear for officers comfortable, but Jim wasn't that lucky. It didn't help that most of his memories attached to the outfit were of court marshals.
Thankfully, he was distracted from his discomfort by the arrival of Uhura and Spock. They nodded to him before stepping onto the platform. "Mr. Scott has the conn, Captain, and he has been briefed on our communication situation," Spock reported as he moved to stand next to Jim.
"Thank you, Spock. Scotty'll take care of the Enterprise while we're gone." Jim grinned, remembering the last time he had left Scotty with the conn for an extended amount of time. The man would make an excellent captain, but Jim knew Scotty would rather be knee-deep in engine parts than sitting in the captain's chair. Thankfully, this mission would only last a day or so.
A moment later, the door slid open again to reveal Bones, dressed in his formal wear with a tricorder hanging at his side and a pouch clipped to his belt that Jim knew contained a variety of hypos. "Do you know how hard it is to find a hypo that can counteract an allergic reaction when the patient is also allergic to half of the hypos?" the doctor asked with a grumble as he stepped onto the platform. "I swear, one of these days, Jim, I'm gonna kill you when I'm trying to save you because of some reaction you'll have."
Jim only grinned. "I'm sure I'm in good hands, Bones. You are, after all, a doctor." He then turned to the ensign manning the transporter. "Energize," he ordered, and a few seconds later, the world around him disappeared, replaced by an alien environment.
The first thing Jim noticed was the sky. It was dark blue, the same color one would see in the evening on Earth. What took his breath away, however, was the brilliant white band that stretched across the sky. Reskar was a ringed planet, Jim knew, but he had never been on the surface of such a planet himself. It was gorgeous.
He quickly ripped his attention from the sky to focus on the two beings standing not far in front of them. The Reskarians were humanoid, with long limbs and thin frames that towered a good foot taller than Jim. They wore loose robes of neutral color. Their skin was deep blue, not unlike that of the sky, and it seemed to shimmer as they moved. Their faces were oblong, with long ears, narrow mouths, and small noses and eyes. Both of the beings were completely bald.
"Greetings," one of them said, bending slightly at the waist and sweeping one hand out, palm up, toward Jim and his party. "I am Teanar of the Reskarian High Council. This is my attendant, Eson." The other Reskarian, who was slightly shorter, Jim realized, copied Teanar's movement.
Drawing on his memory of the ambassador's notes, Jim bowed slightly at the waist and mimicked the gesture. "We are honored to greet you, Teanar of the Reskarian High Council, and we extend our greetings to your aide as well." Out of the corner of his eye, Jim could see Bones, Spock, and Uhura copy his movement. "I am James Kirk, Captain of the USS Enterprise. This is my First Officer Spock, my Chief Medical Examiner Leonard McCoy, and my Communications Officer Nyota Uhura."
The Reskarian councilman smiled—at least that was what Jim interpreted the expression as—and nodded. "We are honored with your presence. When we were told that Ambassador Silas had fallen ill and become to sick to travel, we feared the Federation would not be able to trade with us."
Jim smiled. "The Federation would not allow such a thing to prevent a friendship with Reskar," he said, hoping it was what the Reskarian wanted to hear. Evidently, it was, for Teanar smiled again.
"It seems our faith was well placed. Please, follow me. You are to be honored guests at the House of Orolon, Head of the High Council, tonight."
Jim nodded and followed the Reskarians, turning his attention to the world around him as they walked. They were in Alar Tos, the capital city of Reskar, and it was breathtaking. The world, Jim knew from the ambassador's notes, was mostly forested, even at higher elevations, and the city was no exception. Gleaming white buildings stretched a hundred and two hundred feet into the sky alongside trees that were nearly as tall. Like the people, the trees of Reskar were tall and thin, with branches reaching out to form a crown in the last twenty feet. The trunks were a soft grey color, accenting the beautiful gold leaves.
"Fascinating," Spock murmured. Jim turned to the man walking next to him and saw that the Vulcan was also admiring the trees. "It seems the trunks are made of a sturdy but flexible organic compound. See how they sway with the wind yet do not break?"
Jim watched, and sure enough as a chilly breeze rippled through the air, the trees bent back and forth without breaking. "Incredible."
Their escort must have overheard their conversation, as they both stopped. "The trees are called Rekka, and they grow like this only around Alar Tos," the aide explained. "There are many similar varieties across Reskar, but they only grow to thirty or forty feet and have much thicker trunks."
"They're gorgeous," Uhura said from behind Jim, and he could picture the smile on her face.
While he wanted to examine the trees closer, he was wary of taking to long to reach wherever it was they were going. "Please, we did not mean to interrupt."
Eson glanced at the councilor, who nodded, before turning back to Jim with a smile. "It is of no concern. It is good to see outworlders who are interested in Reskarian life."
"Indeed," Teanar intoned. His voice was deep and rumbling, very dissimilar to his aide's higher and softer voice. "Come, we are almost there."
They walked for a few minutes longer, before arriving in front of a large white building. While many of the buildings they had passed were tall, this one was only about two stories tall but sprawled across the tree-dotted landscape. The grass, green like Earth's, was carefully maintained, reminding Jim of a French mansion from old Earth, complete with the winding walk up to the door.
They were met at the door by two more Reskarians, these dressed in silver robes decorated with a symbol that Jim didn't recognize. They bowed to Teanar and opened the door. The counselor placed three of the long fingers of his right hand on his forehead and nodded deeply before stepping across the threshold. Jim and his party copied the gesture, which indicated respect for the host of the home if Jim remembered correctly, and stepped into the home.
They were led through several rooms before stepping into what was clearly a waiting room of some kind. The room was lit by a large window and several floating crystal orbs, which threw a golden light over the room.
"If you will please wait here, a servant will retrieve you in a few minutes and you will be honored guests at Orolon's table for the evening meal," Teanar said, extending his hand palm up and sweeping it in an arc, this time in the opposite direction. A farewell.
"We are honored. We thank you for your hospitality, Councilman Teanar, and extend our thanks to your aide as well." Kirk copied the motion, earning him a slight smile from the aide before both Reskarians turned and left the room.
Once they were gone, Kirk turned back to his crew. "This place is amazing, Jim," Bones said, and Uhura nodded enthusiastically.
"Indeed," Spock spoke up, and Jim could see a light in Spock's eyes. It was the spark that always seemed to appear whenever he had the chance to study something he found fascinating. "The architecture seems to mimic the nature of the Rekka trees while still allowing for functionality. Aside from this building, they have all made careful use of vertical space."
Bones nodded. "The ambassador's notes said that the Reskarians revere heights. The capital city is the highest city on the planet."
Uhura frowned. "If they revere heights, why is the High Councilor's home not very tall?"
At that question, Jim spoke up. "It's probably a show of humility. Do the Reskarians worship any gods?" He directed the question at Spock, and the Vulcan nodded.
"The worship a single genderless deity that is said to take the form of a bird resembling what you might describe as a phoenix, Captain," Spock replied with a nod. "The deity's name is known only to the high priests of the faith, and it is referred to as the Great One by all other Reskarians. Fascinating, that a religion can exist that purposefully keeps such information from its worshippers."
Jim nodded. "The low house is in honor of that then. The High Councilor wouldn't want to be accused of raising himself to a position of godhood."
Before anyone else could speak, the door opened to reveal a shorter Reskarian dressed in silver robes like the ones the guards by the door had worn. "Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise," the Reskarian said, and Kirk realized with a start that the Reskarian was a woman. Her voice and slight curves were the only things that set her apart from the male Reskarians he had seen so far. "I have the honor of guiding you and your crew this evening. Please, follow me."
Jim and the others followed as the woman led them deeper into the large house. Eventually, they came to a stop in front of two large double doors made from some sort of dark metal, a contrast to the light colors of the rest of the house. The woman knocked on the door and then waited. Jim didn't hear anything but after a few moments, the woman pushed open the door and stepped through. Jim followed, swallowing the exclamation of surprise that threatened to escape when he saw the room.
Room wasn't quite an accurate description. In reality, the space was more of an open-air courtyard, covered in a soft carpet of grass and sporting several tall trees. In the middle of the courtyard was a long table where a half dozen Reskarians were seated, all wearing silver robes. At the head of the table sat a Reskarian in intricate robes, a silver circlet on his head. Orolon most likely. The four seats nearest to him were empty.
"High Councilor Orolon," the Reskarian woman greeted, bowing and sweeping her arm out. "May I present Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise, First Officer Spock, Chief Medical Officer Leonard McCoy, and Communications Officer Nyota Uhura." As their names were called, they each stepped forward and copied the now-familiar gesture of respect.
Orolon stood from his place and echoed the gesture. "My house is honored. Please, be seated."
Jim followed the servant to the seat on Orolon's right. He was about to move to sit, when he caught Uhura's eye. She shook her head slightly, and Jim fought back a rush of embarrassment. Of course, he had forgotten that meals were a very important, and very regulated, part of Reskarian culture. Once everyone was standing behind their chairs, the rest of the table rose as well. Together, everyone placed three fingers on their forehead and nodded deeply to Orolon. He returned the gesture, and everyone sat. Then, Orolon clapped his hands, and servants approached from the edges of the courtyard bearing plates laden with exotic-looking fruits and other foods.
Once they were served, Jim waited patiently for Orolon to take his first bite. Then it was Jim's turn, then Spock, then Bones, and finally Uhura, according to their rank and position in his crew. The rest of the Reskarians sitting at the table continued the pattern until everyone had taken a bite. After that, the atmosphere relaxed significantly, and before long, Jim found himself in conversation with the high councilor.
"High Councilor, I am honored that you would invite me and my party to dine with you," Jim said honestly. "If you will forgive me for saying so, I was uncertain of Reskarian food, but I see my fears were unfounded." And they really had been. Jim wasn't exactly sure what he was eating at the moment—some kind of soup—but it was delicious, spicy but not enough to be uncomfortable. Much better than the food the replicators made. The purple fruit he had eaten earlier had been equally good, although he wasn't certain about the drink he had been given. It had a strangely thick consistency, as if he were drinking syrup. Still, the meal had greatly surpassed his expectations.
Orolon smiled slightly. "Ambassador Silas had a very similar reaction when he first tried our cuisine. I am gratified to hear that you enjoy it. Essitari is one of my favorite dishes." He paused for a moment, regarding Jim with an odd look in his eye. "If you will forgive a social lapse of my own," he said finally, "I must admit that I am surprised that the Federation sent a starship captain to secure the trade agreement instead of another ambassador."
How was Jim supposed to respond to that? He didn't want the high councilor to feel as if the Federation was underselling him. "Unfortunately, there were no other ambassadors close enough to reach Reskar in time," Jim finally said. "However, my crew and I have training in several of the same duties as those of the ambassadors."
"Of course, I did not mean to insult you or your crew," Orolon said, bowing his head slightly.
"No offense taken, High Councilor," Jim replied with a smile. "My crew and I are grateful for the chance to visit your beautiful planet. I believe my First Officer has taken an interest in your local plant life." At the sound of his title, Spock turned toward him, eyebrow raised. "I was telling the high councilor of your fascination with the Rekka trees," Jim explained.
Spock nodded. "Indeed. Their biological structure is quite incredible." The councilor nodded with that strange not-smile all Reskians seemed to have and told Spock of a study that had been done on the trees only a few years earlier. Before long, the two of them were in deep conversation.
Jim smiled at the exchange and turned to Uhura. Both her plate and bowl were empty; apparently he was not the only one who had enjoyed the meal as much as he had. Even her drink was nearly gone. "How are you enjoying the meal, Lieutenant?"
"Hmm, oh, it's very good, Captain," she responded without looking at him. Her attention was clearly focused elsewhere.
"Is something wrong, Uhura?" Jim questioned, instantly on alert. Uhura quickly shook her head, however, and Jim let himself relax.
"No, Captain. I'm just distracted. I switched off my universal translator for a few moments to listen to the native language. It's beautiful." She smiled, an excited gleam in her eyes.
"Really? What does it sound like?" he asked. Uhura had a preternatural knack for languages, he knew. If he left her here on the planet without a translator for a week, he suspected she'd be able to hold an eloquent conversation in Reskarian by the end of it.
She tilted her head before responding, obviously listening to the sounds around her. After a few moments, she said, "It's almost musical, like chimes. The words are very individual, separated from one another, but not enough for the speech to be slow. Altogether, it's like listening to a song."
"I'm sure if I gave you long enough, you'd be able to sing it," Jim laughed, and Uhura blushed slightly, ducking her head. They spoke for a while longer, but eventually Jim let the woman return to her listening, turning his attention back to the conversation between Spock and the High Councilor.
"I must admit, Commander, I am surprised to find a Vulcan a member of an otherwise human crew," Orolon was saying.
Jim smiled to himself at that comment, already knowing what Spock would say. "I find that my time among humans has been most beneficial, despite their often illogical actions."
"The benefit the rest of the crew receives from his presence is far greater," Jim said, unable to resist joining the conversation any longer. "Spock's logic and wisdom have saved us on more than one occassion." Spock raised an eyebrow at him, but Jim knew the Vulcan was secretly pleased.
Orolon smiled his not-smile. "I believe you, Captain."
The dinner lasted for another hour and a half. Once the plates had been cleared away, Orolon stood. "Honored guests," he said. "I would like to extend to you an invitation to spend the evening within the walls of my home. Rooms have already been prepared for you, as have additional outfits."
For a moment, Jim didn't know how to respond. Eventually, he decided it was best to play it safe and avoid offending the high councilor. "Thank you, High Councilor. My party and I would be greatly honored." Evidently, that was the right answer, for the councilor smiled and gestured for a few servants to take them to their rooms.
Jim and his crew followed the servants back inside the large home and up an elegantly carved flight of stairs to the second level of the house. This floor was decorated in darker, warmer colors than the floor below had been. It was also carpeted, unlike the marble they had been walking on.
After a minute or so, they turned down a hallway and came to a stop. The hall was fairly short and consisted of only two doors. Jim frowned in confusion, and a quick glance at his crew told him that they felt the same. Even Spock had raised an eyebrow ever so slightly.
One of the servants, a woman, turned toward them. "We deeply apologize for the accommodations. A group of refugees from the northern mountains arrived during the evening meal and were given the majority of the rooms," she explained.
Jim dismissed the apology with a smile. "It's fine," he assured before turning to his friends. "So, how do we want to do this?"
To Jim's surprise, Spock was the first one to speak. "If you would not be averse to sharing quarters with me, Captain, I have a few matters I would like to discuss with you before the signing tomorrow."
Jim worked to hide his shock. "Sounds good, Spock. If Uhura can suffer through McCoy's snoring that is," he joked, nudging his old friend in the ribs.
Bones rolled his eyes. "I'll have you know that I haven't snored since the academy, Jim. Must have been something about sharing a room with you," he declared, crossing his arms in front of him.
Jim laughed softly before becoming serious again. "You can have a room to yourself if you want, Uhura," he told the woman, but she shook her head.
"I'm fine with rooming with the doctor, Captain," she assured him.
"If you are decided, we will leave you to your rest," the lead Reskarian said, bowing slightly. "Someone will come to escort you to the signing at 7:30."
"Of course," Jim replied, bowing as well. "Thank you for your help." The Reskarians bowed again and then left, walking back down the hall the way they had come.
Jim turned back to his crew. "Remember that the signing is at 8:00. We'll meet in my quarters at 7:00 for a final briefing." Bones and Uhura both nodded their understanding, and once again Jim found himself grateful for such wonderful people to explore the galaxy with.
"See you in the morning, Jim," Bones said before turning and stepping to the door on the right, opening it so that Uhura could step through. Then the door closed, and Jim turned back to Spock.
"Well, let's see what Reskarian quarters look like."
. . .
A/N I hope you liked this second chapter! I had a lot of fun designing the Reskarians and their world. If you have questions or feel like there is something about them that I didn't clarify, please ask.
